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It was Shaun Samson’s first show outside of MAN and the comfort of the guaranteed crowd MAN pulls. But if the ever cool, laid back Californian had any fears prior to the show, he was in for a welcome relief. The basement of the Hospital Club was jam-packed with fashion heavy hitters squeezed together, ignoring the idea of personal space just to see what Samson had in store. For AW13 the designer injected the very British crowd with a dose of Californian street vibes. It was unapologetically street, with street cast boys and a hard soundtrack. i-D caught up with the man himself backstage to talk about his inspirations…
Camping Trips. Wintertime camping trips played a big part for Samson. The entire collection had elements of what you might find or hope to find under the stars and facing the elements. Being a firm Californian boy, Samson insisted it was merely a fantasy about what a trip like that might be, with northern lights and monsters.
Ice Monsters. These two words were used throughout the process of creating the collection. ‘Ice’ referring to Ice Hockey Jerseys, inspiring big oversized silhouettes slouched over baggy shorts and joggers. ‘Monsters’ referring to Fur Monsters, which appeared in the furry angora ear muffs and wool used throughout.
Aurora Borealis. The final two looks featured shiny blue fabric that Samson created himself from pressing a translucent “party fabric” onto denim. This was his way of bringing the Northern Lights to London for one moment. The final look, a brilliantly bulky puffa jacket made entirely of this fabric, was pure genius.
Serenity Prayer. A serenity prayer was printed onto sweaters and blankets; a prayer to protect from the monsters while sleeping under the stars. The prayer was taken from one recited in prisons, which Samson recited backstage while promising us he hadn’t been in prison!
Text: Ger Tierney
Photography: Mitchell Sams
